I've bought used phones for years — here's how to never get scammed

Used phones can slash hundreds or even thousands off the price of a flagship device, but the savings come with risks. Between phones that mysteriously stop working days after purchase, devices locked to carriers you don't use, and outright scams where nothing shows up at all, buying secondhand feels like navigating a minefield.

I've purchased every phone I've owned for the past several years on the used market without a single bad experience, and it's not luck — it's knowing exactly what to look for before hitting the buy button. Whether you're hunting for the best used smartphones 2025 has to offer or trying to save money on last year's flagship, here's how to score a legitimate deal on a used phone

1. Stick to reputable sites

Where you shop matters more than anything else. Try and sti